December 13, 2024

From the Desk of Superintendent Young

Dear CHS Community,

With just one week until winter break and the end of our first semester, the school year continues to pick up pace. It is hard to believe the first semester (and 2024) is almost behind us. This coming week, our high school students are preparing for semester exams next week, and we want to ensure everyone is aware of our different release schedules: Middle School and High School will release early on December 17-19, while Elementary School has early release on December 19 only. Please check the district website for specific times and details of all upcoming events.

Reflecting back on the past week, the energy in our schools remains high as students engage in enriching experiences across all grade levels. Our elementary students have been especially active, with kindergarteners visiting the art museum, drama club tryouts underway, and fourth and fifth graders testing their engineering skills in an "egg catch" challenge. Meanwhile, our Model UN team represented us proudly in Columbus, bringing home multiple awards including the Outstanding Cultural Award and Outstanding Resolution, with AJ Kurta earning Outstanding Delegate honors.

Career exploration and future planning have been key themes this month. Our ninth graders created vision boards to map out their future aspirations, while tenth graders are preparing for their February visit to CVCC to explore potential program paths. In the middle school, students discovered various career clusters through hands-on activities, from Architecture and Construction to Health Sciences, giving them practical exposure to different career possibilities.

These diverse experiences reflect our commitment to providing comprehensive education that extends well beyond traditional classroom learning. Through hands-on activities, real-world applications, and community connections, we're preparing our students not just for academic success, but for meaningful lives as engaged citizens. Whether they're solving engineering challenges, exploring career paths, or representing our school in state competitions, these experiences help shape well-rounded individuals ready for whatever future they choose to pursue.

Reaching New Heights Together!

Matt Young

Superintendent

CHS TIP OF THE WEEK: Reflecting on First-Term Accomplishments

As we near the end of our first term, it's important to take time to reflect on and celebrate achievements. Reflection helps students recognize their growth, builds confidence, and identifies areas for future focus. This practice of meaningful reflection develops critical thinking and self-awareness. Here are some tips for productive reflection:

Preschool-5th Grade:

• Create a visual timeline of major accomplishments this term

• Share favorite memories from each month of school

• Make a scrapbook of special projects and proud moments

• Compare work from August to now to see growth

6th-8th Grade:

• Review academic progress in each subject area

• List new skills learned in different classes

• Reflect on social growth and new friendships

• Document accomplishments in extracurricular activities

9th-12th Grade:

• Evaluate progress toward academic and personal goals

• Review college preparation milestones achieved

• Update academic and extracurricular portfolios

• Assess study strategies that worked well

For All Students:

• Celebrate improvements, not just perfect scores

• Recognize efforts in challenging situations

• Identify favorite learning experiences

• Express gratitude to those who helped along the way

Remember, every student's journey is unique, and all progress deserves recognition. Let's celebrate our accomplishments together!

Our CHampion Staff

DISTRICT NEWS

Ms. Amato's High School Resource Room attended an inclusive educational experience at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entitled Hello Cleveland!  Students learned about our city's rock roots and explored the museum and exhibits. The "Garage Band" floor of the museum was a huge hit! The scholars were able to play various instruments along with classic rock songs! Lasting memories were made thanks to Mr. Jordan, Ms. Murray, and Nurse Moore's help chaperoning.  Ms. Amato's class cannot wait for the next field trip! 

Save the date! CHS got Talent will be a fun family friendly event to support the CHS Music Boosters! Tickets for the event go on sale soon. We are currently in need of basket raffle items, volunteers and acts, so if you or your kids want to sing, dance, play an instrument, juggle, do a gymnastics routine, volunteer, whatever - sign up today!

https://cuyhtsmusic.ptboard.com/sgnvw?signup=75b83403-ed25-464c-9fff-5d468547a435~s.9223370308278722173

The gifted fifth graders took their annual field trip to the Salvation Army to help organize food, clothing, and toys for needy families this holiday season. This year, the students unboxed and organized hats and gloves for each child in need. The students worked together to do good in their community.

Important Update for Current Tuition Families:
We are excited to begin the registration process for the 2025-2026 school year at Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools! To help us plan and determine space availability, we ask all families participating in our Tuition Program to complete the Tuition Interest Form by December 20, 2024.

Important Update for Prospective Tuition Families:
If you're interested in joining Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools for the upcoming school year, please note that the completion date of the Tuition Interest Form will serve as your official request date, contingent on space availability. Final enrollment will also require completion of the full registration process, which opens in January 2025.

Whether your student is returning or not, a separate form must be completed for each child. This ensures we have accurate information for planning.

Submit the Tuition Interest Form here: TUITION INTEREST FORM

Thank you for choosing Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools, where we help every student reach new heights!

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

A final shout out to our varsity football team for their historic run!  For only the 11th time in school history our boys made the "Elite 8" finishing the season with a Regional appearance in the 4th round of the State Playoffs!  Also this week the Associated press announced the All Ohio football team and we had seven players make the list for Division VII.  Congratulations to all!

The CHHS Music Department will be embarking on a trip to the Windy City on March 28-31, 2026. Any student who will be in grades 9-12, who is in good academic and behavioral standing with the school, and will be enrolled in a music program, during or after school, for the whole year or season, during the 2025-2026 school year will be eligible to go. This includes the curricular Band, Choir, or Orchestra classes, and also includes students in the co-curricular activities Marching Band, Red Rubies, Jazz Band, Scarlet Angels, Electric Orchestra, and Drama Club.

We will have an informational meeting on Tuesday, December 3 at 6 p.m. in the CHHS Media Center (there were some earlier communications that this would occur on Monday, the 2nd, but it was moved to Tuesday, the 3rd). Noteworthy Tours will be there to explain the details of the trip, the payment process, and answer any questions.

If you wish to sign your student up for the trip, please complete the Google Form below by Thursday, December 19.

Sign My Student Up for the Trip!

COMMUNITY

The Village of Brooklyn Heights is currently looking to hire for the positions of:

• Art in the Park Supervisor ($19.97 per hour)
  

• Art in the Park Assistant Supervisor ($19.97 per hour)

Details can be found here. Those interested should email Thea Guilfoyle at tguilfoyle@brooklynhts.org or call the office at 216-739-3702.

Once again this year, all senior citizens are invited to join us for our Annual Senior Citizen Winter Concert & Luncheon! This festive event, hosted by the Class of 2027, will take place on Monday, December 16, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The celebration will begin in the auditorium with a delightful concert performed by our talented students, followed by a warm and welcoming luncheon in the North Gym, just across the hall. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together, enjoy live music, and connect with friends in the community during this special season.

We ask that attendees kindly RSVP by December 2. If you are a member of a village senior citizen club, please RSVP through your club. If not, feel free to contact Tracy Deal at tdeal@cuyhts.org or (216) 429-5702 to reserve your spot.

Seniors may park along the street in front of the school and enter through the pillar doors (steps) or park behind the school and enter through door #43 to access the elevator.

Please help us spread the word! Share this invitation with friends, family, and any senior citizens who may be interested in joining us for this joyful tradition. We look forward to celebrating with you!

ALUMNI HAPPENINGS

As the Class of 2025 enters their final year at Cuyahoga Heights, we are also rolling out the red carpet for the Classes of 1950, 1975 and 2000! Whether you rocked poodle skirts, bell-bottoms, or cargo pants during your high school days, we want to hear from you!

🎓 Class of 1950: Celebrating 75 years of wisdom!

🎓 Class of 1975: Half a century of memories!

🎓 Class of 2000: A quarter-century of adulting!

We want to bring your high school memories back to life. Throughout the year, we'll be reaching out to you, our alumni, to share your stories as we relive the school year, one nostalgic moment at a time.

Are you (or someone you know) a proud graduate from these classes? We want to hear from you!

🍂 Fall Flashback: Share Your Back-to-School Memories! 🍂

As leaves start to turn and school bells ring again, we're diving into your first-quarter memories. Send us your stories and snapshots of:

• Pep rallies that got your school spirit soaring

• Fall sports triumphs and team bonding moments

• Homecoming festivities that still make you smile

• Typical school day shenanigans

• Fashion statements that defined your era

• Hairstyles that were totally "in" (no judgments, we promise!)

Whether it's a faded photograph, a vivid memory, or a hilarious anecdote, we want it all! Help us create a time capsule of Cuyahoga Heights Schools through the decades.

Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Send your stories and photos using this link. 

#CHSAlumniLegacy #DecadesOfExcellence

STAY IN THE LOOP

We're excited to introduce a new addition to our Friday e-newsletter to help families stay in the loop. To make your life easier, we've created a dedicated section that serves as a one-stop shop for all the essential apps and tools you regularly need. Here, you'll find quick access to everything from reporting absences and tracking school buses to adding money to lunch accounts and more. We hope this centralized resource will save you time and make managing your child's school-related tasks more convenient.

Know someone who would enjoy receiving our weekly e-newsletter?
Share this link with them!

REACHING NEW HEIGHTS E-NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP